F1 Canadian Grand Prix: FP2 Report
George Russell of Mercedes dominated the second practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix, clocking a best time of 1:12.123 on medium tires. This performance raises strategic questions for the upcoming qualifying, as McLaren’s Lando Norris finished just 0.028 seconds behind, unable to match Russell’s pace on softs.
The session saw early drama when Lance Stroll crashed his Aston Martin at Turn 7, sustaining terminal damage. Stroll, returning from a hand injury that kept him out of the Spanish Grand Prix, was forced to retire his car shortly after the incident.
Russell’s early laps included a significant 1:12.602 on softs, but it was his medium tire run that secured the top spot as the session progressed. "It’s all about managing tire choices for qualifying," Russell commented, highlighting the dilemma teams face in selecting between Pirelli’s C6 soft and C5 medium compounds.
In the standings, rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured third place on soft tires, followed closely by Williams’ Alex Albon, confirming the team’s strong form at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Fernando Alonso brought his Aston Martin to fifth, while championship leader Oscar Piastri finished sixth but was four-tenths slower than Russell.
Lewis Hamilton claimed eighth, running as the only Ferrari representative in FP2 after teammate Charles Leclerc missed the session due to a chassis change following his FP1 crash. Max Verstappen finished ninth, stating that his Red Bull felt “more nervous” compared to the earlier session, struggling particularly with brake temperature issues.
The tight grid likely points to competitive qualifying on Saturday as teams prepare to navigate the complexities of tire strategy and track conditions.
FP2 Results Summary
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:12.123
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:12.151
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – [Time Not Provided]
- Alex Albon (Williams) – [Time Not Provided]
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – [Time Not Provided]
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – [Time Not Provided]
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – [Time Not Provided]
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – [Time Not Provided]
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – [Time Not Provided]
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – [Time Not Provided]
Context
The conditions at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve continue to challenge teams, particularly with tire performance and vehicle handling. As the focus shifts to qualifying, teams will need to weigh the advantages of tire choice against track position—an ongoing strategic theme in the 2023 F1 season.
This tightly contested session sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting qualifying round as teams fine-tune their setups and strategies ahead of race day.
